Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 17(8)) (No. 3) Notification 2014
- Act Code: RELA1983-S718-2014
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation notification (Gazette notification)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275)
- Key Legal Mechanism: “Sole and only proper Statute Book” specification for selected subsidiary legislation
- Gazette/Instrument Reference: SL 718/2014
- Date Made: 21 October 2014
- Effective Date: 31 October 2014
- Status (as indicated in the extract): Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 17(8)) (No. 3) Notification 2014 is a procedural and legal-clarification instrument issued under Singapore’s Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275). In plain language, it is a “statute book consolidation” notification: it designates a particular revised edition of subsidiary legislation as the authoritative reference for courts and all legal purposes.
Under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, the Law Revision Commissioners publish revised editions of laws (including subsidiary legislation) in a loose-leaf format. Over time, amendments and reprints can create uncertainty about which version is the correct one to cite. Section 17(8) of the Act provides a mechanism to resolve this by allowing the Commissioners, via Gazette notification, to specify that the revised edition shall be the sole and only proper statute book for specified pieces of subsidiary legislation.
This particular notification (No. 3) relates to the 2014 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation made under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. It states that, with effect from 31 October 2014, the 2014 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation will be the “sole and only proper Statute Book of Singapore” for the subsidiary legislation listed in the Schedule (the Schedule is referenced in the extract, though the individual subsidiary instruments are not reproduced in the provided text).
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The legal basis: Section 17(8) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
The notification is expressly grounded in section 17(8) of Cap. 275. The extract “sets the stage” by referencing section 17(5), under which the Law Revision Commissioners caused the 2014 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation to be published in loose-leaf form as at 1 October 2014. The notification then invokes section 17(8), which empowers the Commissioners to specify—by Gazette notification—that the revised edition is the sole and only proper statute book for the relevant subsidiary legislation.
2. The operative specification: “sole and only proper Statute Book”
The core legal effect is the declaration that the 2014 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation shall be, from the effective date, the sole and only proper statute book in respect of the subsidiary legislation covered by the Schedule. This phrase is significant for legal practice. It is not merely a recommendation or a preferred citation; it is a statutory designation intended to eliminate competing “versions” of the statute book for the specified instruments.
3. Effective date: 31 October 2014
The notification states that the designation takes effect “with effect from 31 October 2014.” For practitioners, this matters for citation and for determining which text governs in proceedings. If a dispute arises about the content of a subsidiary instrument that falls within the Schedule, the revised edition designated by this notification is the authoritative reference from that date for “all courts and for all purposes.”
4. Formalities and certification by the Law Revision Commission
The notification includes the enacting formula and is “made” on 21 October 2014 by V K Rajah SC, Chairman of the Law Revision Commission. It also includes an administrative reference: [AG/LLRD/RSL/275/2014/1 Vol. 1]. While these are not substantive provisions, they confirm the instrument’s authenticity and the institutional authority behind the designation.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This notification is structured in a typical Gazette-notification format under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. The extract shows an enacting formula and then identifies THE SCHEDULE as the mechanism for specifying which subsidiary legislation is covered. In other words, the notification’s substantive “coverage” is determined by the Schedule, even though the Schedule’s list of subsidiary instruments is not included in the provided extract.
From a practitioner’s perspective, the structure is therefore two-layered:
(a) The notification’s operative declaration (the “sole and only proper statute book” effect, with effect from 31 October 2014); and
(b) The Schedule (the list of subsidiary legislation instruments to which the declaration applies).
Because the Schedule is central, lawyers typically need to consult the full Gazette notification text (or the legislation platform’s “Schedule” view) to identify the exact subsidiary instruments brought within the “sole and only proper statute book” designation.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The notification applies broadly to all courts and for all purposes, as stated in the enacting formula. That language is designed to bind the legal system’s approach to referencing and using the revised subsidiary legislation. It does not target a particular class of persons (such as regulated entities or members of the public). Instead, it targets the legal reference framework used by courts, practitioners, and legal authorities.
In practical terms, it applies to anyone who must cite or rely on the specified subsidiary legislation—lawyers drafting pleadings, counsel preparing submissions, judges and registrars interpreting subsidiary instruments, and government departments or agencies applying subsidiary rules in enforcement contexts. The notification’s effect is to ensure that the 2014 Revised Edition is the authoritative statute book for the listed instruments from 31 October 2014.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the notification is short, it is legally important because it addresses a common problem in legal practice: version control of subsidiary legislation. Subsidiary legislation can be amended, reissued, or consolidated over time. Without a clear “sole and only” designation, parties might cite different compilations or loose-leaf versions, creating avoidable disputes about what the “current” text is for the purposes of litigation or administrative action.
This notification provides certainty by designating the 2014 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation as the authoritative statute book for the specified instruments. The phrase “sole and only proper Statute Book of Singapore” is intended to prevent arguments that another compilation is the correct reference. For practitioners, this reduces citation risk and helps ensure that submissions are anchored to the legally recognised text.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the notification also supports consistent application of subsidiary rules. Agencies and regulated parties often rely on published subsidiary instruments. When the revised edition is designated as the sole and only proper statute book, it becomes the baseline for interpreting obligations, procedures, and powers contained in the subsidiary legislation listed in the Schedule.
Finally, the notification is a reminder that legal research in Singapore must account not only for the substantive subsidiary instrument but also for the revised edition framework under Cap. 275. A lawyer who fails to check the relevant revised edition and its effective date may inadvertently cite an outdated compilation, which can undermine credibility and, in some contexts, affect the outcome of arguments about the applicable text.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275) — in particular section 17(5) (publication of revised editions) and section 17(8) (designation of the sole and only proper statute book by Gazette notification).
- Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 17(8)) Notifications — other “No.” notifications that similarly designate revised editions for different sets of subsidiary legislation (e.g., “(No. 1)”, “(No. 2)”, etc., depending on the Law Revision Commission’s schedule).
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 17(8)) (No. 3) Notification 2014 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.